Maria Fernanda Espinoza

Ecuadorian activist who pioneered global menstrual equity movements through UN advocacy

Maria Fernanda Espinoza is a groundbreaking Ecuadorian activist whose 2014 UN speech "Menstruation is not a Shame" sparked international dialogue on menstrual health. As founder of Periods for All, she developed low-cost menstrual products using locally sourced materials, impacting 500,000+ women in Latin America. Her work exposed how menstrual taboos perpetuate gender inequality, leading to policy changes in 12 countries.

Her innovative education programs integrate menstrual health into school curricula, while her Menstrual Rights Index measures global progress on this issue. Espinoza's collaboration with UN Women produced the first global menstrual equity toolkit. Her memoir "Bleeding for Change" details her journey from rural Ecuador to becoming a UN Women Champion of Change. Her work challenges cultural taboos while advancing SDG 5 gender equality objectives through grassroots advocacy.